Yelm softball drops first 4A SPSL matchup in 9-7 barnburner loss to Sumner

After a 4-0 start in the 4A South Puget Sound League (SPSL), Yelm High School’s softball team was handed its first defeat in league play on Monday, March 31, a 9-7 loss to the north division’s Sumner Spartans.

The contest was filled with high drama until the very final pitch of the game, when Yelm sophomore Riley Smith grounded out in the top of the seventh to conclude the game, leaving three runners aboard.

“It was a real exciting game. They’re a good ball team. We were able to answer back when we needed to; however, when we had bases loaded, we really needed to push a run across,” head coach Lindsay Walton said following the contest. “I thought we were going to be able to do it. It happened a couple times. We gave ourselves opportunities and we weren’t able to get those runs like we hoped for.”

Freshman Paityn Powell shined in the contest against the Spartans as she went 3-for-4 at the plate, including a solo home run and a double. Her teammate, junior pitcher Mallory Hoke, started on the mound for the Tornados and pitched five innings, giving up six earned runs on 10 hits. She struck out two batters. She was relieved late in the contest by senior Austin Hitchner, who collected multiple hits for her team during the contest against Sumner.

“A few people had a good day at the plate, including Paityn Powell. She was stellar today, including a home run, a hard hit ball to right field and a hard hit ball up the middle. She had a great day,” Walton said. “Mallory (Hoke) worked hard out there today, and Austin (Hitchner) came in. I probably would have made a change a little bit sooner, but it is what it is. If we could have less walks, that would be helpful. Putting people on — we want to make them earn it. Our pitchers are working hard on it too.”

Though the Tornados didn’t get the result they were looking for, Walton was pleased to see her team battle in the sixth and seventh innings by posting valiant comeback efforts despite trailing by three runs.

“The girls kept up their energy and it was a close game between two good teams. We made it exciting there in the end,” Walton said. “I think the girls have proven to themselves that even if they get down, they’re able to put runs on the board and battle back. I think they recognize that. They have confidence they’re going to get the job done. One of our goals is to score in as many innings as possible, and I think we’re seeing results in that.”

Prior to the 9-7 loss against the Sumner Spartans, the Tornados traveled to Bonney Lake High School on Friday, March 28, and defeated the Panthers 12-7. Powell hit another solo home run, and Hitchner earned the victory on the mound after allowing no hits and three earned runs over two and two-thirds innings. She struck out seven batters and walked four.

Hoke, in relief of Hitchner, pitched four and one-third innings for the Tornados. She allowed one earned run on five hits and struck out five batters in the SPSL south division matchup.

“They have some strong hitters that you have to watch out for. We were able to come through and capitalize on some errors they made,” Walton said. “We made more errors than we should have, and I told them against a good team, you can’t make that many errors. However, if you make those errors, you better score. We were able to get that done and get a good win against a good team in our league. That was a good win.”

The Tornados hosted the Spanaway Lake Spartans on Tuesday, April 1, and the Curtis Vikings on Wednesday, April 2; however, results of each contest were not available prior to the Nisqually Valley News going to publication. Up next, the Tornados will travel to Emerald Ridge High School for a 4 p.m. matchup on Tuesday, April 8, and will host the Puyallup Vikings at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9.